If You Had to Draw a Picture of a Christian, What Would He or She Look Like?

July 12, 2007 — Books, Christian Living, Church

For one of my Fuller courses, I just finished reading and writing a 2-page report on The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity by Philip Jenkins. What an eye- opening discussion!

To keep this post brief, I want to quickly highlight some of this book’s key propositions (taken straight from my paper):

• “By 2050, only about one-fifth of the world’s 3 billion Christians will be non-Hispanic Whites.” (page 3);
• “Very soon, the two main centers of Christianity will be Africa and Latin America…” (page 12), indicating a global shift from Northern to Southern Christianity;
• The “look and feel” of Christianity will change from the rich, secure Westerners to the poor, persecuted Southerners as they read, understand and live out the Bible differently; and
• The rift between Christianity and Islam will continue to intensify.

Jenkins is proposing that if your picture of a Christian is white, living in America or Europe, and enjoying the luxuries of life, then think again. Christianity’s center of gravity is shifting (and has been shifting for a long time) to the southern hemisphere.

Much has been written and discussed about this book. Just Google it and see for yourself. One reviewer made this interesting comment: “[Jenkin's] book is the 21st century’s equivalent of the 95 Theses Martin Luther nailed to the door of the castle church in Wittenberg.”

This is a book for everyone. Christian and non-Christian alike. It impacts us all. Ready or not.